FREE debate open to all (taperecording available)

CRIME & ILLNESS - The thin blue line?
The 20th Maudsley Debate co-organised by the Insitute of Psychiatry
http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/IoP/News/mdebates.shtml
and Spiked on-line http://www.spiked-online.co.uk/events/default.htm

Wednesday, 19 March, at 6pm, Refreshments at 5.30pm
venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park,
Denmark Hill, SE5 8AF
map: http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/IoP/where.shtml

Taperecording available at £20 from
http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/iop/AdminSup/MedSup/index.shtml
Media Support Unit
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London
SE5 8AF, UK
Tel: +44(0)20 7848 0326
Fax: +44(0)20 7848 0954
E-Mail: msu@...

THE MOTION:
Crime & llness: the thin blue line?
THIS HOUSE BELIEVE THAT CRIMINALS NEED TREATMENT NOT PUNISHMENT

FOR the motion:
JOHN GUNN, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry
CHRISTOPHER CORDESS, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, University of
Sheffield

AGAINST the motion:
BRENDAN O'NEILL, Assistant Editor, Spiked on-line
http://www.spiked-online.co.uk/
and personal weblog at http://www.boneill.blogspot.com/
Prof PHILIP BEAN, Director, Midlands Centre for Criminology & Criminal
Justice

More details in letter of invitation from Professor Robin Murray:

"March 2003
Dear Colleague/Friend

20th Maudsley Debate - Wednesday 19th March
Crime and illness: the thin blue line?
This house believes that criminals need treatment not punishment

On Wednesday 19 March 2003, the online publication spiked
(www.spiked-online.com) and the Institute of Psychiatry are organising a
debate entitled 'Crime and illness: the thin blue line?

The motion 'This house believes that criminals need treatment not
punishment' will be proposed by John Gunn, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry,
IOP and Christopher Cordess, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, University of
Sheffield

Opposing the motion will be Brendan O'Neill, Assistant Editor, SPIKED and
Professor Philip Bean, director, Midlands Centre for Criminology and
Criminal Justice.

Brendan O'Neill says: 'To say that crime is an illness and that criminals
need treatment is to deny that people can take responsibility for their
actions. It also suggests that criminals never really finish serving their
debt to society, but instead need lifelong help to keep them on the straight
and narrow. Wardens already have the key to prisoners' cells - they
shouldn't have the key to prisoners' souls as well.'

Christopher Cordess says: 'The criminal population consists of largely
marginalised people. They are the victims of our society, as well as the
victimisers. The majority of
offenders need to be provided with better solutions to their life problems,
including education, job training, rehabilitation, and sociotherapy for
relationship difficulties, as well as more specific treatments for mental
disorder. This may require a limitation on freedom.'

We hope you will be able to join us at The Wolfson Lecture Theatre,
Institute of Psychiatry at 6.00pm on the 19th of March for what promises to
be an interesting and lively debate. Please note that tickets will be
issued on arrival on a 'first come, first served basis'.

Yours sincerely,
Robin M Murray
Professor of Psychiatry

NB. If you would prefer to receive future debates information by e-mail,
please contact Carole Dockett at mailto:c.docket@... "



posted by rosemary
Surrey UK
www.mentalmagazine.co.uk
"Campaigning for good health & social care...it's for everyone"